Microsoft temporarily closes all stores due to coronavirus

Microsoft Store closing
(Image credit: NurPhoto / Contributor)

Microsoft is officially closing all of its store locations across the globe in an effort to mitigate the risk of coronavirus. The company sent out an email to customers notifying them of the closures. Microsoft also stated that it would continue to pay employees while the stores are closed.

The email Microsoft sent around stated: "We are closing Microsoft Store locations to help protect the health and safety of our customers and employees. During this unprecedented time, the best way we can serve you is to do everything we can to help minimize the risk of the virus spreading."

Microsoft is following suit with other companies like Apple, which recently shuttered all retail stores outside of greater China until March 27. Meanwhile, Microsoft hasn't revealed when its doors would reopen, but it's safe to assume that the company will wait until the risk has died down significantly.

Furthermore, Microsoft took to Twitter to post an industry statement alongside Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Reddit, Twitter, YouTube about COVID-19. According to the statement, these companies are working closely together to keep people connected and stay up-to-date on the most relevant news.

We're glad more and more companies are taking the necessary precautions against the novel coronavirus. Not that you should be going to a Microsoft Store (or outside in general) right now in the first place. 

Stay tuned for more relevant updates, stay safe and practice social distancing.

Rami Tabari
Editor

Rami Tabari is an Editor for Laptop Mag. He reviews every shape and form of a laptop as well as all sorts of cool tech. You can find him sitting at his desk surrounded by a hoarder's dream of laptops, and when he navigates his way out to civilization, you can catch him watching really bad anime or playing some kind of painfully difficult game. He’s the best at every game and he just doesn’t lose. That’s why you’ll occasionally catch his byline attached to the latest Souls-like challenge.